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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Resting in his father's arms... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- 1995
Resting in his father's arms, the newborn infant slept with a peace life would never again offer.
A minister was telling about... -- Romans 1:1-7 -- 1995
A minister was telling about the stewardship program at the church he serves.
Every year U.S. denominations and... -- Romans 1:1-7 -- 1995
Every year U.S. denominations and congregations send missionaries to foreign countries.
Not too far from Milwaukee... -- Romans 1:1-7 -- 1995
Not too far from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, there is a Catholic shrine called Holy Hill.
One of Jeffrey Archer's more... -- Romans 1:1-7 -- 1995
One of Jeffrey Archer's more exciting tales is the breathtaking novel A Matter of Honor.
The apostle Paul offers in... -- 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1995
The apostle Paul offers in this text an opportunity for those of us in the post-modern era to think
A businesswoman, a recent graduate... -- Luke 6:39-45 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1995
A businesswoman, a recent graduate of a top business school, was appalled at the office politics, wh
Frances approached the church cautiously... -- Luke 6:39-45 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1995
Frances approached the church cautiously.
As children we used to... -- Numbers 6:22-27 -- 1995
As children we used to chant, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." W
There is a church in... -- Numbers 6:22-27 -- 1995
There is a church in New Mexico which has no windows except one stained-glass depiction of Christ's
How many of us say... -- Numbers 6:22-27 -- 1995
How many of us say, "God bless you," when someone sneezes or "Goodnight and God bless you" before go
When the worship leader stands... -- Numbers 6:22-27 -- 1995
When the worship leader stands before or behind the assembly at the end of a service of worship, wit
Be ready in the morning... -- Exodus 34:1-8 -- 1995
Be ready in the morning!
Second SightHow many... -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1995
Second SightHow many opportunitiesremain forever unexplored
We think of Americans as... -- 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1995
We think of Americans as people who are driven to succeed.
I have recently moved into... -- 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1995
I have recently moved into the heart of Ohio farmland.
William Stringfellow, in a small... -- 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1995
William Stringfellow, in a small book called An Ethic for Christians and Other Strangers in a Strang
Shoeless Joe, a novel by... -- 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1995
Shoeless Joe, a novel by W. P. Kinsella, is based on the life of Shoeless Joe Jackson.
I love to receive presents... -- 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1995
I love to receive presents, don't you?
It is said that a... -- 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1995
It is said that a close-minded person is one who bottles up the darkness of his own mind because he
Veils have many uses. They... -- 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1995
Veils have many uses.
The Book of Sirach is... -- Sirach 27:4-7 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1995
The Book of Sirach is subtitled, "Ecclesiasticus, or the Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach." It is beli
When we come face to... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1995
When we come face to face with ourselves in the mirror each day, we may wonder, "What did I do to d
The entire free world grieved... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1995
The entire free world grieved when John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
Andrew Johnson is sometimes referred... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1995
Andrew Johnson is sometimes referred to as "the accidental President." On March 4, 1865, Andrew John

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John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffed animal.

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Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent! Let’s get started!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For June 22, 2025:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,  for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.  As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (vv. 25-28)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
Life can be frightening sometimes. Thus it is both comforting but disconcerting to find a giant of faith like Elijah to fear the future. On that matter Martin Luther once claimed:
David Kalas
We’re not far from the 4th of July. And while for so many Americans, it seems that the holiday has become more about long weekends, cookouts, and fireworks shows, the theme of freedom is still there at least in the background. We might take advantage of that, therefore, and give some thought to the theme of freedom as it is revealed in our assigned texts for this week.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

The madman cried out to Jesus, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" In our worship today let us explore what Jesus has to do with us and invite him to heal our brokenness.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, we often find ourselves thinking, saying and doing things that we quickly regret.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Constance Berg
When Jill was five, she began to have headaches. The headaches were so severe she would throw up. Sometimes she would pass out. They usually came once a month. Jill could be playing, resting, or watching television when the headaches would come. Her only warning was a sudden pain in her head, then a blinding light would appear, and she would be rocked with pain. In her teenage years, they became debilitating, causing Jill to be in bed for three days at a time.
Stan Purdum
I'm not sure when the term "burn out" ceased being only a description of what happened to a campfire when you ran out of firewood to a term describing the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest, usually coming immediately after an extended period of overwork, but the expression seems to fit that later situation, doesn't it? Exhaustion, deep weariness, all used up, nothing more to give, wiped out, burned out -- call it what we will, its symptoms are all too familiar to many of us.
April Yamasaki
In the classic movie, Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews plays a no-nonsense, yet delightful, nanny to two young children. As a nanny to a wealthy family, she is part teacher, part parent, and part disciplinarian. She gets the children up in the morning, puts them to bed at night, supervises their many adventures, and guides them in many ways. While they are in her care, she is responsible for their overall safety and well-being.

Julia Ross Strope
Zoos are no longer in people's good graces.
Religion faces the same problem.
Certain illusions about freedom plague them both.
-- Yann Martel, Life of Pi

Call To Worship
Leader: I'm so glad you're here! There are seats for everyone; there's slight air movement; the windows engender tranquility and imagination and words will stimulate fresh thoughts.

People: It's good to be here, in sanctuary. We're glad for opportunities to gather and to express our gratitude to God and our appreciation for one another.

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